Thai Lue

Story of Thai Lue Ethnic Group in Beng District

Source: Elder people and village authorities

Mr. Maymang Norin (very old man) wrote down stories a long time ago, and Mr. Houmpheng Panyasak edited in 2008.

The story says that a long time ago, the origin of Tai Lue (Tai nyor) is from Matalo District in Siam. That district, where a river stream passed through, bordered Myanmar. That time, there was war between ethnic groups. A lot of people were escaping. The ethnic group of Tai Lue (Tai nyor) escaped along the river and settled along the road number 2W until today, along the Nam Beng River, in Beng district.

The Tai Lue generally like to settle in flat lands and close to a river, which is good for agriculture and to be self-sufficient. They are very active in doing agriculture and handicraft, especially pottery production.

Tai Lue are Buddhist and Animist at the same time, while Buddhism is prevalent. They believe in various spirits, one for ancestors, and other spirits to be village, house, rice field, upland, river and other spirits. They also believe in fortunetellers to predict the future and to give advice what to do.

Traditional performances include spiritual songs, accompanied by traditional instruments. One of these instruments is similar to a small flute (in Lao “Pii”), another one with strings similar to a violin, and the third one is similar to drums.

For their traditional performances, they also have storytellers to tell story about former Tai Lue people. For example, one story is about Ms. Phom Hom which means in English “good smelling hair”. They also have poets and and magicians to take part in the performances.

Their traditional clothes are made from cotton in natural indigo blue color. The knowledge has been transferred from many generations, from woman to woman. The clothes for women have specific pattern, especially for the Lao skirt. The border of the skirt is normally in black color. The border of their long-sleeved shirts are normally also in black color, especially on the neck. The scarfs are more colorful in pink and white. The men also wear cotton clothes with natural indigo color, along with black. The shirts have two pockets. Male shirts are locally called “Sertew”. Nowadays, the Tai Lue ethnic group wears these traditional clothes mainly for festivals.

The male of Tai Lue from old generations used to have tattoos, starting from the stomach down to the knees. Nowadays, tattoos are not common anymore.

The women have excellent skills in weaving, but also in producing pottery, especially pots, bowls and spoons.

The houses are built on stilts. The roofs of the houses are thatched, made of special grass. The walls and floors are made from two different strong species of bamboo (“Mai Xang” for the floor, “Mai Hia” for the wall) that is splinted into flat small pieces. In the house, they separate the space into differentrooms, separated by bamboo walls, with separated bedrooms. Living room and kitchen is the same room. They have two balconies, the first one on the same level when entering the house, and the second one elevated to that level. This second balcony was mainly built in the past.

Festivals: Every year in April (international calendar) during the Tai Lue New Year, they build a “Wax Castle” for a procession, which is made of bamboo and decorated with wax and other materials. It is the same time as the Lao New Year. In August or September Lai lunar calendar is the beginning of Buddhist lent, and in December Lai lunar calendar is the End of Buddhist Lent. Apart from these festivals that are the same for other Lao groups, the Tai Lue group has special Animist rituals. For example, in July Lue lunar calendar, they make offerings to the village- and house spirit and to other spirits.

Nam Beng River in Beng and Houn district is a branch from the Mekong River. Tai Lue (Tai nyor) migrated from Muang Nyor district (belongs to Boun Neua district in Phongsaly province). Since the 11^th century the reason why they call themselves Lue Tai nyor is because their own village was called Muang Nyor (“Nyor” is the name of the stream). It is to remind them where they came from.

With the first migration, 7 families arrived in Beng and Muang district along the Beng river. The second migration also counted 7 families to become 14 families. The two leaders were Pou Muen Noy, and Phanya Khattynya. After 1975 when Laos became independent, the group of Tai nyor moved out and built their houses along the main road and created a new village. They also built a temple and made Buddha images and a Stupa (“Simoungkhoun Rattanaram”). They also put up a platform (“Koungboun”) for offerings of diverse goods packed in sets.

The story of the Tai Lue / Tai Nyor started 1000 years ago.